Words by Candace Echols with Anna Waters
Illustrations by Dasha Lebedev
Here in the South, ordering a soda or sparkling water instead of a beer can occasionally raise eyebrows, even from friends and family. Drinking is a tradition for many Southerners. Some may even call it a sport.
However, tastes are changing. The modern “sober-curious” movement is about reevaluating your relationship with alcohol. That doesn’t necessarily mean quitting entirely. Rather, it means choosing to drink less or opt for zero-proof options in the name of health, wellness, taste, or moderation. According to a national consumer sentiment survey by NCSolutions, 49% of adults over 21 said they are trying to drink less alcohol this year, up 44% from 2023. Led primarily by Gen Z, the trend toward more “sober-curious” drink options and activities is making its way from big-city bars to small-town watering holes across Tennessee.
As a lifelong “teetotaler,” I abstain from alcohol and have fielded questions about it for years, Diet Coke in hand. However, in the state of Tennessee—where Dolly Parton, Jack Daniels, and I are from—bartenders and restaurateurs have worked hard to marry classic cocktail flavors with today’s sober-leaning consumer trends. From blackberry-lime mocktails that rival a summer cocktail to herb-infused drinks designed to lift your mood, Tennessee’s underrated mocktail scene is growing.
So, what will come of this evolving trend? Perhaps the occasional mocktail will entertain even the stoutest of sensibilities. Either way, if you’re ready to explore the Volunteer State without the hangover, this guide is for you.
Here are six must-visit spots—and six delicious mocktails to pair with them—on your next road trip across the Volunteer State.
Memphis, Tennessee
Sips:
Stroll Midtown’s eclectic Cooper Street to The Beauty Shop, a 1940s-era beauty parlor-turned restaurant in the heart of the Cooper-Young Entertainment District, and order the September Girl mocktail. Its blackberry, lime, and mint flavors pair perfectly with the restaurant’s pan-roasted barramundi and grilled romaine salad.
Sights:
Once home to music legend Elvis Presley, Graceland is low-hanging fruit for the Memphis tourist, but only 7 miles north of Presley’s estate stands Sun Studio, widely considered by historians as the birthplace of the first rock ’n’ roll record, “Rocket 88.”
For an unrivaled view of the Mississippi River, take a 28-story ride on the tallest free-standing elevator in America to the observation deck atop the famous Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid.
Stays:
Memphis’ 321-foot steel pyramid is also home to Big Cypress Lodge, a wilderness hotel spanning the pyramid’s second and third stories. Come as you are or with a furry friend to any of the hotel’s more than 100 pet-friendly rooms overlooking the shops below.
Drinking is a tradition for many Southerners. Some may even call it a sport.
Jackson, Tennessee
Sips:
Roughly an hour northeast of Memphis, pop by Franklin’s Little Bar in Jackson, Tennessee, and grab a B. Nektar sober margarita. Franklin’s is the perfect spot to crack open this ready-to-drink craft mocktail and rub shoulders with the locals—literally, as it truly is a little bar. Ice cold from the can, its blend of agave nectar, concentrated lime juice, sea salt, and other natural flavors, such as key lime and orange, is reliable and refreshing.
Sights:
About 20 miles from Jackson, spend an afternoon at the Tennessee State Safari Park in Alamo. Here, ostriches and llamas wander right up to greet you and will even give you a big kiss if you let them.
Stays:
For a good night’s sleep and a little time travel, book a stay at Alamo’s nearby Green Frog Farm. This bed-and-breakfast offers four 100-year-old cabins with access to the grounds and self-guided tours of restored historic buildings from the early 1900s.
Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee
Sips:
On the fringes of Franklin, Tennessee, the quaint village of Leiper’s Fork quietly boasts the Tornado Room, a speakeasy hidden below the Country Boy Restaurant. Sneak down the stairs outside, and once you’ve spotted the green light, you’ll know you’ve arrived. Prepare yourself: There’s no drink menu. Just ask for a mocktail and tell the bartenders your favorite flavors, and they’ll craft one personalized for you.
Sights:
Open mic nights and writers’ rounds call out to those with a penchant for song, but the community garden, fire pits, live music, and killer view of the Little Harpeth River make the Tornado Room a delight, even for those who can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
Stays:
For the free spirits passing through town, stay at singer-songwriter Holly Williams’ Sweeney Cottage in the heart of Leiper’s Fork. Built in 1892, this dreamy historic home was renovated and decorated by Williams herself, the granddaughter of country music legend Hank Williams.
Columbia, Tennessee
Sips:
Settle in at American Barrel in Columbia, Tennessee, and peruse the bar’s impressive menu of mocktails. At the bottom of its list of zero-proof Mojitos, whiskey sours, Manhattans, and the like, you’ll find the Espresso Mocktini. This nonalcoholic twist on the classic espresso martini, made with Columbia’s own Muletown coffee, marries the tastes of day and night. In this self-described cocktail café, there are no screens behind the bar, but its 1940s-style tunes float through the Tennessee twilight, as if time itself can safely unwind here.
Sights:
Surrounded by picturesque hills, horse farms, and picket fences, Columbia is home to the most beautiful town square in the state. Spend a day sightseeing, shopping, and strolling the square, and be sure to stop in Bleu 32 Vintage Marketplace to explore its three floors of antiques and gifts.
Stays:
Consider staying at Muletown Manor, one of four cabins available for short-term rentals across the sprawling 31 acres of Muletown Farm. This historic countryside estate is about 13 minutes from downtown Columbia and has been preserved to immerse guests in its 1800s-inspired, rustic charm.
Sevierville, Tennessee
Sips:
In 1944, The Pines Theater in Sevierville, Tennessee, showed Westerns during the daytime. At night, acts like Roy Acuff, June Carter Cash, Archie Campbell, Chet Atkins, and Dolly Parton played live shows on stage. These days, the now-renovated Pines Theater offers everything from bowling and board games to butterbean hummus. Bring a friend and try the Nonalcoholic Sweet Shoppe Fishbowl for two, a sugary blend of blue Hawaiian Punch, orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon lime soda, and candy. If you’re flying solo, ask for a made-to-order mocktail and offer up a word that represents your preferred flavor profile: “sweet,” “tangy,” “tart,” or something else entirely. The bartender will undoubtedly concoct something you’re sure to love.
Sights:
Sevierville is both the home of country music superstar Dolly Parton and the home of the most-visited national park in America. Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Parton’s Dollywood theme park are two must-see sites on any trip to Sevierville.
Stays:
Under Canvas brings a safari-style canvas tent “glamping” experience to the Great Smoky Mountains, just a stone’s throw from Sevierville. Amid 182 acres of forest and mountain, this luxury resort is the only one of its kind in the South. Don’t miss out: This Under Canvas location is usually open from April through November each year.
Sober travel doesn’t mean missing out on connection, flavor, or adventure, at least in Tennessee.
Cumberland Gap, Tennessee
Sips:
Angelo’s in the Gap takes a different approach to mocktails. This Cumberland Gap restaurant, known for its pizza and wraps, partners with Hillfolk’s Wholesome Grocery and Appalachian Herb Shop to create mocktails that connect with customers on a mental level. Choose from six nonalcoholic, herb-infused drinks: destress, mood booster, focus, energize, calm, and immune support.
Sights:
See the natural beauty of Appalachia and visit Cumberland Gap’s many public parks, including Wilderness Road State Park and the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, a favorite among hikers and history buffs alike.
Stays:
In nearby Tazewell, Tennessee, just 20 minutes from Cumberland Gap, guests can book a stay on Norris Lake. Sleep on the water in one of several “floating houses” or houseboats available for short-term vacation rentals on the lake.
As the sober-curious movement grows, Tennessee is carving out its own niche. Whether savoring a handcrafted mocktail in a Memphis speakeasy or glamping in the Great Smoky Mountains, sober travel doesn’t mean missing out on connection, flavor, or adventure, at least in Tennessee.
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